GA Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

Every question below comes from the Georgia question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. This Divided Highway Begins sign is ahead on a multi-lane two-way road in Georgia. When may you drive left of the center line?

   1. Only when making a left turn
   2. To pass slower traffic
   3. Never, under any circumstance
   4. Whenever the road is clear
   Show answer

   Only when making a left turn. On a multi-lane two-way highway you must never drive to the left of the center line except when making a left turn. Where the highway becomes divided, the median takes the place of the center line and crossing it is not allowed at all. Passing is done in the lanes on your own side. Left of center is not a passing area on a multi-lane road, and a clear road does not change the rule.

2. 2. What condition is identified by the skidding-car warning sign?

   1. The road is reserved for racing vehicles
   2. A gravel surface begins immediately
   3. All vehicles must use tire chains
   4. The roadway can be slippery when wet
   Show answer

   The roadway can be slippery when wet. The sign warns that the roadway may become slippery when wet, so rain calls for lower speed, greater following space, and smooth steering. It does not identify a racing area or announce a gravel transition. Tire chains are not automatically required by this warning. The manual also notes that the first half-hour of rain is especially hazardous because water mixes with oil and other substances on the surface. Treat the sign as an early cue to make gentle inputs before traction is reduced.

3. 3. What do Georgia warning signs alert drivers to?

   1. Conditions that are immediately ahead
   2. Only destinations beyond the next town
   3. The location of every legal parking space
   4. A guarantee that the road is free of hazards
   Show answer

   Conditions that are immediately ahead. Georgia warning signs alert drivers to conditions that are immediately ahead. The condition may be a road hazard, a change in traffic direction, or another situation that requires action. They do not provide a guarantee that the roadway is clear, list parking spaces, or serve only as destination signs. Treat the warning as an early cue to scan beyond the sign, adjust speed when needed, and prepare for the roadway response shown by the symbol or wording. The sign gives advance notice, so use the available distance to make a controlled decision.

4. 4. A right-angle warning arrow represents:

   1. A sharp turn to the right
   2. A four-way intersection with equal priority
   3. A one-way street direction
   4. A lane that ends at a toll booth
   Show answer

   A sharp turn to the right. The right-angle arrow warns of a sharp right turn, so the driver should reduce speed before reaching it and remain prepared for the roadway to change direction quickly. It is not an intersection control, a one-way direction marker, or a toll-lane notice. A sharp turn can demand more steering and can magnify a speed error, especially on a slick surface. Read any advisory speed plaque, position the vehicle early, and avoid entering the turn faster than conditions allow.

5. 5. What are Georgia warning signs usually marked with?

   1. Blue backgrounds with white markings
   2. Green backgrounds with red markings
   3. Yellow backgrounds with black markings
   4. White backgrounds with orange markings
   Show answer

   Yellow backgrounds with black markings. Georgia warning signs are usually yellow with black markings, making them easier to recognize before the driver can read every detail. The color combination identifies a warning rather than a route guide, service sign, or temporary command. Blue, green, and white signs can serve other purposes, but they do not describe the standard warning-sign appearance stated here. When the yellow and black pattern appears, look for the hazard ahead, reduce speed if conditions call for it, and keep attention on changes in traffic direction or roadway surface.

6. 6. What may a Georgia warning sign indicate besides a road hazard?

   1. A guaranteed passing opportunity
   2. A permanent parking permit area
   3. A required fuel stop
   4. A change in traffic direction
   Show answer

   A change in traffic direction. Georgia warning signs may indicate a change in traffic direction as well as road hazards or another potentially hazardous situation requiring action. A warning sign does not guarantee a passing opportunity, identify a fuel stop, or grant a parking permit. Read the symbol early and prepare for the movement change before reaching it. The useful cue is that warning signs describe conditions ahead, so the driver should adjust speed and lane position before the roadway itself demands the response.

7. 7. What does the pennant-shaped sign on the left side of the highway mark?

   1. The end of a no-passing zone
   2. The entrance to a picnic area
   3. The beginning of a no-passing zone
   4. A mandatory shoulder stopping area
   Show answer

   The beginning of a no-passing zone. The pennant on the left marks the beginning of a no-passing zone, so any passing maneuver must be completed before reaching it. It does not mark the zone end or identify recreation or shoulder parking. The location on the left is an important cue because it faces drivers who might otherwise begin passing. Check the center line, oncoming traffic, hills, and curves, then remain in your lane after the restriction begins. Do not use the sign as permission to pass before checking the full roadway.

8. 8. How should a Georgia driver respond when an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, and the shoulder is available?

   1. Move left and continue
   2. Stop in the travel lane
   3. Speed up to clear the area
   4. Slow down, move over to the shoulder, and stop
   Show answer

   Slow down, move over to the shoulder, and stop. When an emergency vehicle approaches with its lights and siren on, safely maneuver out of its way: slow your vehicle and move over to the shoulder of the road, or if that is not possible as far to the right of the roadway or lane as you can, and stop. Use caution so you do not endanger other motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians while doing so, and do not position your vehicle where it blocks the emergency route.

9. 9. What must a driver do when facing a flashing yellow traffic signal?

   1. Stop and wait for a solid green light
   2. Accelerate to clear the intersection quickly
   3. Proceed with caution after reducing speed
   4. Turn off the vehicle before entering
   Show answer

   Proceed with caution after reducing speed. A flashing yellow signal permits movement only with caution, so slow down, evaluate the intersection, and yield when another road user has priority. It is not a command to wait for solid green, and accelerating can reduce the time available to identify a pedestrian or cross-traffic conflict. Turning off the vehicle has no connection to the signal rule. Treat the flashing indication as a warning that demands a careful approach, not as an invitation to maintain speed without looking.

10. 10. When a stop line is present at a traffic control device, where must you stop?

    1. Beside the sign or signal itself
    2. At the stop line, before crossing it
    3. Beyond the crosswalk so the front bumper is visible
    4. Anywhere after entering the intersection
    Show answer

    At the stop line, before crossing it. A stop line marks the point beyond which a vehicle should not travel while stopping for a traffic control device. Stopping at the physical sign or signal can place the vehicle too far forward, and stopping beyond a crosswalk can block pedestrians. Entering the intersection before stopping is also unsafe. Look for the white line as you approach, stop completely before it, and keep the crosswalk open. This position gives pedestrians room and preserves sight lines for crossing traffic.

11. 11. On a two-lane road, what does a single solid yellow line on your side indicate?

    1. Passing is required before the next intersection
    2. The lane is reserved for emergency vehicles
    3. Passing is prohibited in your direction
    4. Vehicles may cross freely in both directions
    Show answer

    Passing is prohibited in your direction. A single solid yellow line on your side identifies a zone where passing is prohibited. The marking does not require a driver to pass, create an emergency lane, or permit free crossing. A broken line may indicate that passing can be considered when safe, but the solid line changes that permission for the lane it governs. Use the center marking as an early decision cue, stay behind a slower vehicle when required, and wait until a lawful passing area begins.

12. 12. If water is on the roadway, what precaution does the manual emphasize to prevent hydroplaning?

    1. Maintain speed so the tires stay stable
    2. Follow another vehicle closely for guidance
    3. Brake hard as soon as water appears
    4. Slow down when there is water on the roadway
    Show answer

    Slow down when there is water on the roadway. Georgia emphasizes slowing down whenever water is on the roadway because standing water can separate tires from the pavement and reduce braking, steering, and acceleration control. Maintaining speed leaves less time to respond, and hard braking can make a traction problem worse. Following closely adds risk because spray and sudden braking obscure the lead vehicle. The useful cue is visible water ahead: ease off early, keep a larger gap, and make smooth steering inputs. Tire condition also matters, but speed reduction is the immediate precaution named for preventing hydroplaning.

13. 13. When should a driver dim headlights in heavy fog?

    1. Only after another driver flashes high beams
    2. When bright lights create glare and make seeing harder
    3. Never, because high beams improve fog visibility
    4. Only on roads with a posted speed below 35 mph
    Show answer

    When bright lights create glare and make seeing harder. In heavy fog, bright headlights can reflect from moisture and create glare, making the road harder to see. Dimming them improves the driver view compared with adding more light to the fog. Waiting for another driver or using a speed-limit cutoff invents conditions that are not part of the guidance. Keeping high beams on because they seem brighter can reduce visibility. Slow down, increase space, and use the lower setting while watching for headlights, taillights, and roadway edges.

14. 14. How should you respond to a flashing red traffic signal?

    1. Treat it as a flashing yellow and continue at speed
    2. Drive through because a red flash is advisory
    3. Stop only if a pedestrian is visible
    4. Stop completely, then proceed cautiously after yielding
    Show answer

    Stop completely, then proceed cautiously after yielding. A flashing red signal has the force of a stop sign. Come to a complete stop, check for pedestrians and other vehicles, yield the right-of-way, and proceed only when the intersection is safe. Continuing at speed confuses red with yellow, while waiting for a visible pedestrian is not enough because cross traffic may also be present. The advisory choice removes the required stop. Treat the signal as a controlled intersection every time it flashes red, even when the road appears empty.

15. 15. What is the penalty in Georgia for violating the rules for passing a bicyclist?

    1. A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $250
    2. A $25 fine
    3. License revocation
    4. A warning
    Show answer

    A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $250. Georgia motorists must approach bicycles with due caution and follow the listed rules, including leaving at least 3 feet of space when passing. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $250. The penalty is criminal rather than a mere warning, and the amount is far above a token fine, but it is not a revocation. Make a lane change when possible, and wait behind the rider until a safe pass is possible.

16. 16. What does a single solid yellow line mean when it is on the right of a broken yellow line?

    1. Passing is prohibited for traffic traveling beside the solid line
    2. Passing is automatically permitted for both directions
    3. Passing is prohibited in every direction regardless of the other line
    4. The solid line identifies a reversible lane
    Show answer

    Passing is prohibited for traffic traveling beside the solid line. The solid yellow line applies to the lane on its side and marks a no-passing zone there. The broken yellow line may serve the opposite lane where passing can be allowed when safe, so the marking does not automatically prohibit both directions or permit both directions. It also is not a reversible-lane signal. Identify which line is nearest your vehicle, then follow that line restriction while considering visibility, oncoming traffic, and any posted no-pass sign before attempting a maneuver.

17. 17. What type of information do Georgia's diamond-shaped warning signs generally provide?

    1. Mandatory licensing requirements
    2. Existing or possible hazards ahead
    3. Directions to fuel and lodging services
    4. Names of county boundaries only
    Show answer

    Existing or possible hazards ahead. Diamond-shaped warning signs alert drivers to an existing or possible hazard, so their message calls for attention and an adjustment that fits the upcoming condition. They are not the normal shape for licensing rules, service directions, or county names. A driver should read the symbol or wording, reduce speed when needed, and look beyond the sign for the condition it describes. The diamond is the first cue that the roadway may soon require a different speed, lane position, or response.

18. 18. You approach an emergency vehicle stopped on the shoulder with warning lights. If safe, what should you do?

    1. Keep your speed and pass close to the stopped vehicle
    2. Use the shoulder to pass without reducing speed
    3. Move over to the next lane
    4. Stop in your current lane even when traffic is moving behind you
    Show answer

    Move over to the next lane. Georgia requires motorists to move over to the next lane when that change can be made safely near an authorized roadside emergency vehicle displaying warning lights. Staying close at the same speed leaves little protection for people working at the shoulder. Passing on the shoulder creates a separate hazard, and stopping in the lane can cause a rear-end collision when a safe lane change is available. Check mirrors early, signal, create the buffer, and slow down if moving over cannot be done safely.

19. 19. If your vehicle begins to skid, what should you do first?

    1. Press the brake pedal as hard as possible
    2. Ease your foot off the accelerator
    3. Accelerate to force the tires to regain grip
    4. Turn the steering wheel sharply away from the skid
    Show answer

    Ease your foot off the accelerator. The first response to a skid is to ease off the accelerator, which removes power that can keep the tires from regaining grip. Hard braking, a sharp turn away from the skid, or acceleration can make the vehicle less stable. After reducing power, steer in the direction of the skid and wait until control returns before applying a light brake if needed. Keep movements measured, because abrupt corrections can turn a manageable slide into a larger loss of control.

20. 20. What does an octagon-shaped traffic sign require a Georgia driver to do?

    1. Yield without stopping unless cross traffic is present
    2. Make a complete stop at the marked stop line when one exists
    3. Slow to walking speed and continue through the intersection
    4. Stop only when a police officer is directing traffic
    Show answer

    Make a complete stop at the marked stop line when one exists. Georgia reserves the eight-sided sign shape for a stop command. The driver must make a complete stop at the marked stop line, then remain stopped until pedestrians have finished crossing and closely approaching traffic has been yielded to. Yielding without stopping changes a mandatory stop into a yield, while slowing to walking speed allows movement without the required pause. A useful visual cue is the octagon itself: even when the sign face is hard to read, its shape signals stop.